Zhanna Bikkina enters her first season as an assistant coach in 2024, overseeing the Cardinal epee specialists. Bikkina brings over 20 years of experience to The Farm, including national and international successes.
"I'm extremely excited to work together with Zhanna in taking Stanford Fencing to the next level," said Massialas. "Zhanna has successfully coached epee at the highest level of the Junior World circuit and I know she will bring that same passion, empathy and expertise to the Stanford team."
In her most recent stop at the Academy of Fencing Masters in Sunnyvale, Bikkina coaches athletes that accounted for over 30 national medals in individual and team competitions from Y-10 to DIV1.
While at AFM, Bikkina guided Leehi Machulsky to a global No. 1 junior women's epee ranking globally in 2023-24, and a bronze medal at 2024 World Championships. In 2022, the club's women's epee team earned bronze medals at both the Junior Olympic Championships and USA Fencing National Championships.
Outside of fencing, Bikkina is also a trained musician - playing the piano and guitar.